Daddy's Little Girl

The One Where it All Falls Apart

“Let me just stay here for a minute, damn that girl got a mean punch.” He said as he leaned up against a crate. “It feels like she cracked my chest in half,” he said with a cough.

“I think you should go to the hospital, you don’t look too good.” Roscoe said as he watched Dante break out into a sweat.

“What will I tell them?”

“The truth, that your girlfriend kicked your ass.” Roscoe said with a laugh as Dante finally stood up and he shot Roscoe a look that instantly shut him up.

“If you ask me you got off pretty easy, I know if my girl ever found out I used her she would bury me alive.”

“I didn’t use her,” Dante said defensively as he slumped down onto his work stool. “Whoever told her got it wrong. Victoria’s parents did a lot for me especially after Crystal died I knew that they missed her and I just wanted to help; so I promised her mother that I would bring her back home. I admit curiosity was my main drive in the beginning but once I started to spend time with her and get to know her I fell for her.”

“As a man with five sisters and one crazy ass Venezuelan wife I suggest you leave her alone for the next week or so.” Roscoe said patting Dante on the shoulder. “I’m going to get an ice pack,” he mumbled as he walked away leaving Dante alone with his thoughts and the throbbing sharp pain in his chest.

*****

“Lori she’s back!” an associate yelled as she ran pass Lori’s desk. Lori shot up out her seat and rushed over to the elevator in time to meet up with Victoria as she stepped out of the elevator.

“Welcome back Vict-“

“-find me two boxes.” Victoria commanded as she walked pass Lori, Lori grimaced as she rushed off to find the boxes.

Victoria walked into Owen’s office interrupting a meeting he was having with a Junior partner.

“Victoria I’ve been calling you all weekend, how could you-“

“-I just came to get my stuff, I will be notifying my clients by the end of the week.” She said before walking out of the office and went straight into her office. Lori arrived with the boxes and she instructed Lori to clear out her bookshelf while she cleared out her desk.

“So it is true, you’re really leaving.”

“Yupp,” Victoria said as she packed her laptop away into her bag before emptying out her drawers.

“But what about me?” Lori asked her voice filled with sadness which surprised Victoria. She stopped packing and looked at Lori who held onto a book so tightly her knuckles turned white.

“I don’t want you to leave.” She said as her bottom lip quivered.

“Why not, I always hear about how badly I treat you.”

“You do treat my badly compared to everyone else, but…..you’re the only one who took a chance on me.” She said as tears filled her eyes, Victoria couldn’t help but feel touched by her sincerity. “I know that the only reason why you are so hard on me is because you want to toughen me up, I’ve learned a lot from you Victoria.”

Victoria’s mind flashback to the day Martina had left the firm with no warning, much like Victoria had done. She knew that Lori must feel as alone and hurt as she did back then, so she decided to do something that she only wish Martina had done for her.

“If you want to keep learning from me then you can come with me, I won’t pay you as much as Harper and Lawson but it’ll be enough for you to get by.”

Lori’s big brown eyes stretched with surprise as a smile spread across her face.

“Really?”

“Yes really, if that’s what you want?”

“Thank you!” Lori squealed as she rushed over to Victoria and hugged her catching Victoria off guard. Victoria pat Lori on the head when she let her go.

“You have to put in your two week notice first.” Victoria said turning her around and pushing her back towards the bookshelf. Owen walked into the office and Victoria rolled her eyes.

“Lori can you give us a minute.”

“No Lori you finished packing,” Victoria said as she glared at Owen. “What can I do for you Mr. Lawson.”

“You’re seriously doing this?”

“Was I not clear enough when I handed you my resignation? I have two more if you want to read those as well.”

“Why are you doing this Victoria?”

“I just want some peace in my life, and I can’t get that if I’m still here. Besides I’m taking the pro bono case with me so that solves your problem and gets Jeffery off your back.” She said before turning her attention back to packing. Owen watched her pack and could not believe that she was really trying to leave him.

“Will you stop and talk to me!” he yelled fed up with her stubbornness. “I’m not letting you leave,” Owen said as he grabbed her. Lori noticed the way Owen held Victoria in his arms and she knew that it would be best if she left the room.

“Lori where do you think you’re going?” Victoria asked as Lori tried to ease her way out of the room. Victoria pushed Owen off of her and put some distance between them. Lori let out a sigh as she returned to the task at hand.

“I’ve learned a lot for you Owen but you I both knew that this wasn’t a forever kind of deal.” She said as she returned to clearing out her desk, Owen just shook his head and walked away.

Once Victoria finished clearing out her office she packed the boxes into her car and without looking back she drove away.

When she made it home she took two sleeping pills and curled up into bed not wanting to deal with the pain in her heart or the million questions on her mind.

Victoria did not wake up until the late afternoon after Heather barked at her for ten minutes straight. As she sat up the room began to spin, she dropped her head into her hands as the doorbell rang. She cursed under her breath as she dragged herself down the stairs; she opened the door to find a certified mail carrier waiting for her to sign for a package. Victoria scribbled her signature on the slip and took the package before closing the door. As she walked into the kitchen she tore open the package and pulled out a notice that a misconduct complaint was filed and that the case was pending investigation. Victoria read the notice three times before bursting out into a fit of laughter.

“Oh my god!” she said trying to stifle her laugh as she opened her refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of white wine. Heather rubbed up against Victoria’s leg and when she looked down Heather had her food bowl in her mouth.

“Oh I forgot to feed you, I’m sorry.” Victoria fix Heather’s bowl of food she slumped down into the corner as she watched Heather eat. Heather looked up at Victoria and she rubbed the top of her head.

“The hits just keep on coming Heather,” she said as she put her arms around Heather as tears began to fall, and the more she tried to resist the faster they began to fall. Victoria pressed her cheek on the top of Heather’s head as she cried pleading for the relief she so desperately wanted.